Acoustically sealed track system for movable partitions



ACOUSTICALLY SEALED TRACK SYSTEM FOR MOVABLE PARTITIONS Filed Nov. 7.1960 July 23, 1963 c. R. MYERS ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TORS- C/flklES .2 (9 715.26 FIG/V1? A. HEDLER.

July 23, 1963 c. R. MYERS ETAL 3,098,519

ACOUSTICALLY SEALED TRACK SYSTEM FOR MOVABLE PARTITIONS Filed Nov. 7'1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. (l/ARA 5 z. 0776-525, FEfl/YK K #50451, u ck;

July 23, 1963 c. R. MYERS ETAL ACOUSTICALLY SEALED TRACK SYSTEM FORMOVABLE PARTITIONS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 7. 1960 INVENTORS.(f/442L155 2.07715? FRANK KHEDLEP.

United States Patent ACOUSTICALLY SEALED TRACK SYSTEM FOR MOVABLEPARTITIONS Charles R. Myers, Glenarm, and Frank K. Hedler, Baltimore,Md., assignors to Koppers Company, 'Inc., a corporation of DelawareFiled Nov. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 67,595 Claims. (Cl. 16040) The presentinvention relates to movable or retractable partitions and moreparticularly to means for providing an effective acoustical seal aroundthe perimeter of a movable partition in extended position.

It is commonly known that to achieve flexibility in the use of the spacewithin modern buildings such as auditoriums, dining rooms, school roomsetc. a very useful architectural product is the movable partition. Byhaving available a partition of the type often referred to as being aretractable or folding partition, the most efiicient use of availablespace may be realized by having the ever present capacity to bring forthor remove a visual and physical barrier at will.

Unfortunately, in those situations in which it is desirable toeffectively reduce sound transmission between areas separatedtemporarily by the interposition of a movable partition one of thecritical problems confronting designers has been that of securingadequate acoustical sealing between the extended partition and adjacentsurfaces. Although a partition may be composed of individual panelshaving a moderate or even a high degree of sound transmission loss, suchperformance is readily compromised in the event of poor sealing betweenthe outer edges of the partition and adjacent room surfaces forming aframe about such extended partition.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide meansfor sealing between the perimeter of a fold ing partition in itsextended position and the framing surfaces adjacent thereto to provide adegree of sound transmission loss commensurate with the efiiciency ofthe sound proof panels themselves. Another object of the presentinvention is the provision of means for suspending, conveying andmaintaining alignment of the plurality of hinged panels comprising amovable partition.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a sealingmechanism for folding partitions including means for applying pneumaticor hydraulic pressure whereby sealing can be simultaneously achievedalong both the top and the bottom of a movable partition in its extendedposition.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofmeans for insuring the straight-line alignment of the plurality ofpanels comprising a movable partition moving into or out of the extendedposition.

The present invention is directed to an overhead track system includingmeans for suspending a plurality of hinge-connected panels comprising amovable partition, means for conveying these panels into retracted orinto extended position, means for maintaining these hinge-connectedpanels in straight-line alignment during carriage into or from theextended position and unique means for employing pneumatic or hydraulicpressure to the tops of the panels when in the extended position so asto effect simultaneous acoustical sealing of both the top and the bottomof the extended folding partition. To complete the seal about theperimeter of the extended folding partition the system includes theapplication of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure within vertical wallseals (one at each end of the extended partition) to completely seal theexposed vertical edges of the first and last panels to the adjacent wallsurfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will P we hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of the annexeddrawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a isometric view of a typical folding partition shown inpartially extended position and employing a pre ferred embodiment of thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing thedetails of the sealing mechanism,

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of an individual panel with a portion ofthe panel broken away to show the system for suspending the panel fromthe overhead track system,

FIG. 4 is -a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 with the foldingpartition in extended position prior to sealing against the lead paneland FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 with thefolding partition in extended position prior to scaling against the lastpanel.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is shown in FIG. 1 a folding partition .1 1 comprising a pluralityof hinge-connected panels 12 and 13 employing continuous hinges 13aoften referred to as piano hinges. These panels are preferably of adesign having a high sound transmission loss. Panels 12 differ fromadjoining panels 13 in that panels 12 depend directly from the overheadtrack system 14 while panels 13 are joined to panels 12 by means ofhinges (not shown) and are supported thereby.

The suspension means for panels 12 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2and 3 wherein it is seen that carriage means such as rollers '16 ridingon rails 17 of track 18 support alternate panels (panels 12) of foldingpartition 11 since they are arranged in four wheel trucks such as truck19 (FIG. 3). From each truck 19 there depends a truck pin or shaft 21seated in a swivel 22 at its upper end and attached to leaf springs 23at its lower end thereby carrying the weight of the attached panel 12.As indicated above, panels 13 are supported by panels 12 through hingeconnections (not shown) and in this manner it can be seen that theentire folding partition 11 is supported by the suspension systemdescribed. The height of panels 12 and 13 above the floor can beadjusted by changing the position of adjusting plate 24 and nut 26 ontruck pin 21.

Overhead track system 14 in addition to providing for the suspension andcarriage of folding partition 11 also provides means for acousticallysealing folding partition 11. To effectuate this sealing operation thesystem is provided with a flexible pneumatic tube 27 shown in theunexpanded position in FIG. 2, which tube 27 when caused to expand actsto force pressure plate 28 downwardly slipping along mounting bolts 29which are provided to transmit the load of folding partition 11 to anoverhead support such as structural steel I beam 31 without changing theposition of rails 17 and track 18. The downward movement of pressureplate 28 is transmitted to closure walls 32 and from thence to pressureangles 33.

Pressure angles 33 are fitted on the underside thereof with rubber stripgaskets 34 which are generally affixed thereto by means of an adhesiveand when pressure angles 35 have been moved .down sufiiciently, rubberstrip gaskets 34- engage panel tops 36 of all panels 12, 13 along thelength of the extended folding partition 11. Continued downward movementof this upper sealing means or closure assembly comprising pressureplate 28, closure walls 32, pressure angles 33- and gaskets 34 forcespanels 12, 13 down against the upward force of panel springs 23 inpanels 12 until lower sealing means, foot gasket 38 of rubber or similarresilient material, has been compressed to the desired degree againstfloor 39. Once this has been accomplished folding partition :11 has beensealed both top and bottom since as pneumatic tube 27 expands and thedistance between flange 4 1 of I beam 31 and pressure plate 28 increasesthe integrity of the acoustical seal is maintained both by expanded tube27 and by flexible seals 42, 43. Since the objective is to prevent thepassage of sound over the top of partition 11 in the space between thepartition 11 and structural support 3 1, flexible seals 42, 43 areconsidered part of the upper sealing means or closure assembly. In theclosed, sealed position of partition 11 the passage of air thereover isprevented together with the sound which would be transmitted therewith.

When the downward force exerted by expanded pneumatic tube 27 has beenremoved preparatory to retracting folding partition 11, leaf closureassembly springs 44, 4 6 lift the closure assembly clear of panel tops36 to the position shown in FIG. 2 to prevent any interference betweenthe closure assembly and the panel tops 36 during carriage of panels 1-2and 1 3. Also, in the absence of force from above, panels .12 (andthereby panels 13) are lifted clear of floor 39 by means of panel leafsprings 23.

In order to assure the straight alignment of panels 12 and .13 whenfolding partition 11 is conveyed into and from the extended position,panel-aligning guide rollers 47 are supplied. During the extension offolding partition 11 as panels 12 and 13 unfold and proceed along track1 8, these rollers 47 engage inner surface 48 mounted on a downwardprojection of closure wall 32. Rollers 47 to gether with truck 19astride rails 17 complete the geometry required to properly position thepanels and assure partition alignment. Inner surface 48 with theaccompanying downward projection does not extend the full length ofoverhead track system 14 but stops about eight feet from the stackingposition to allow panels 12 and 13 to pivot to permit orientation to thestacking position. Although the drawings disclose the location of onlyone panel align ment guide roller '47, the particular arrangementemployed is a matter of choice, as for example, two guide rollers 47 maybe employed for every panel, one being located in the upper corner ofeach panel or the guide rollers 47 may be arranged with two sets ofrollers for panels '12 and none for panels 13 relying on thehinge-connections between panels 1-2 and 1 3 to suitably align panels'13.

In operation, folding partition 11 is extended from the stacked positionby pulling the lead panel 12 along the track-defined span line.Extension may be accomplished either by manual or power-driven means(not shown) and full extension of folding partition 11 occurs whenleading edge 49 contacts vertical seal assembly 51 which is affixed tothe opposite wall. At this time leading edge 49 engages and closes limitswitch 52 located in vertical seal assembly 51 thereby actuating to openposition the solenoid-operat ed air valve 53 in compressed air supplyline 54, a conduit which connects pump 56 with flexible pneumatic tube27 admitting compressed air thereto causing tube 27 to expand. Sincepneumatic tube '27 is housed in channel 57, any expansion of pneumatictube 27 is limited to movement in the downward direction whereby adownward force is exerted on folding partition 11 sufficient to compressfoot gasket 38 into sealing position against floor 39.

At the same time that the sealing of foot gasket 38 against floor 39 iseffected an acoustic seal along the full span of the topof extendedpartition '11 is also completed as explained above, thereby eliminatingsound leakage between panel tops 36 and the supporting structural steel31 overhead.

'Final sealing action occurs as downward panel movement is completed, atwhich time limit switch 58 is closed by the downward movement of foldingpartition 11 thereby actuating solenoid-operated air valve 59 in airline 61 to open position to admit air under pressure from pump 56 topneumatic vertical seal assemblies 51 and 62 through air lines 63 and64. Thus, by pneumatic action the gaps between the leading and trailingbutt edges of folding partition 11 at the far ends thereof and the wallsadjacent thereto will be sealed by the expansion of pneumatic tubes 65,65a similar to pneumatic tube 27.

To reverse the process outlined above the first step, prior toretracting folding partition 11, is to vent the compressed air from thesealing system by closing manual switch 66 thereby actuatingsolenoid-operated valve 6-7 in vent line 68 to open position. Relaxationof the downward force previously exerted by pneumatic tube 27 enablespanel springs 23 to lift panels 112 (and thereby panels 13) clear of thefloor. In order to completely free folding partition 111 for theretraction thereof the system is provided in addition with springs 44,46 which lift the closure assembly (comprising pressure plate 28,closure walls 32, pressure angles '33 and gaskets 34) clear of paneltops 36. As soon as folding partition 11 has been moved away from limitswitches 58, 52 in that order the solenoid-operated air valves 59, 5 3are closed and once folding partition 11 is prepared for retraction, themanual switch 66 should once again be opened thereby closingsolenoid-operated air valve 6 7 in vent 68.

It may be seen from the above discussion that the present inventionoffers means for simple, positive and substantially simultaneousacoustical sealing about the perimeter of an extended folding partitionand also provides for promptly disengaging the acoustical sealingmechanism to facilitate unencumbered retraction of the folding partitionwhen necessary.

It is to be noted that by solving these problems in the particularunique manner employed rails 17 and track 18 are still permitted toremain rigidly fixed in position depending from I beam 3-1. Since rails17 and track 18 support the entire folding partition -11, themaintenance of this rigid, fixed relationship is vital for theelimination of panel drag during the retraction of folding partition 11and for the prevention of track sway during the extension of foldingpartition 1-1.

It should be understood, of course that the foregoing disclosure relatesto only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that numerousmodifications or alternations may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and the scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition comprising incombination a plurality of hinge-connected soundproof panels, anoverhead support, substantially horizontal elongated track meansdepending from said overhead support in fixed position relative thereto,carriage means mounted on said track means, suspension means connectingsaid carriage means with the alternate panels of said plurality ofpanels whereby said alternate panels depend from said carriage means,the balance of said plurality of panels being supported by saidalternate panels by means of hinge connections thereto, said suspensionmeans including biasing means arranged within said alternate panels tourge said plurality of panels upwardly, said carriage means togetherwith said plurality of panels being movable along said track, a strip ofresilient material attached to the length of the under-edge of eachpanel of said plurality of panels, upper sealing means connected to saidoverhead support and substantially enclosing said track means throughoutthe length thereof being movable vertically relative thereto and meanslocated between said upper sealing means and said overhead support forautomatically applying positive downward-acting force to said uppersealing means along the length thereof for urging said upper sealingmeans into sealing engagement with the tops of said plurality of panelsand moving said plurality of panels downward to force said strips ofmaterial into sealing engagement with the surface below said pluralityof panels whereby sound is prevented from flanking said plurality ofpanels both at the bottom and at the top thereof.

2. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition comprising incombination a plurality of hinge-connected soundproof panels, anoverhead support, substantially horizontal elongated track meansdepending from said overhead support in fixed position relative thereto,carriage means mounted on said track means, suspension means connectingsaid carriage means with the alternate panels of said plurality ofpanels whereby said alternate panels depend from said carriage means,the balance of said plurality of panels being supported by saidalternate panels by means of hinge connections thereto, said oarri agemeans together with said depending plurality of panels being movablealong said track, lower sealing means attached to the length of theunder-edge of each panel of said plurality of panels, upper sealingmeans connected to said overhead support and substantially enclosingsaid track means throughout the length thereof being movable verticallyrelative vthereto and means located be-- tween said upper sealing meansand said overhead support for applying a downward-acting force to saidupper sealing means along the length thereof, said upper sealing meansbeing moved downward against the tops of said plurality of panelssealing the space between said overhead support and said tops of saidplurality of panels and in addition moving said plurality of panelsdownward to place said llOWCf sealing means in sealing engagement withthe surface below said plurality of panels whereby sound is preventedfrom flanking said plurality of panels both at the bottom and at the topthereof.

3. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition comprising incombination a plurality of hinge-connected soundproof panels, anoverhead support, substantially horizontal elongated track meansdepending from said overhead support in fixed position relative thereto,carriage means mounted on said track means, suspension means connectingsaid carriage means and said plurality of panels whereby said pluralityof panels depend from said carriage means, said carriage means togetherwith said plurality of panels being movable along said track means,lower sealing means co-extensi-ve with the underedge of each panel ofsaid plurality of panels, upper sealing means connected to said overheadsupport and substantially enclosing said track means throughout thelength thereof being movable vertically relative thereto and meanslocated between said upper sealing means and said overhead support forapplying a downward-acting force to said upper sealing means urging saidupper sealing means downward against the tops of said plurality ofpanels sealing the space between said overhead support and said tops ofsaid plurality of panels and in addition moving said plurality of panelsdownward to place said lower sealing means in sealing engagement withthe surface below said plurality of panels whereby sound is preventedfrom flanking said plurality of panels both at the bottom and at the topthereof.

4. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition comprising incombination a plurality of hinge-connected soundproof panels, anoverhead support, substantially horizontal elongated track meansdepending from said overhead support in fixed position relative thereto,carriage means mounted on said track means, suspension means connectingsaid carriage means and said plurality of panels whereby said pluralityof panels depend from said carriage means, said carriage means togetherwith said plurality of panels being movable along said track means,lower sealing means co-extensive with the underedge of each panel ofsaid plurality of panels, upper sealing means flexibly connected to saidoverhead support and resiliently mounted above said track meansthroughout the length thereof being movable vertically relative theretoand means located between said upper sealing means and said overheadsupport for applying a downward-acting force to said upper sealing meansmoving said upper sealing means downward against the tops of saidplurality of panels to seal the space between said overhead support andsaid tops of said plurality of panels and in addition moving saidplurality of panels downward to place said lower sealing means insealing engagement with the surface below said plurality of panelswhereby sound is prevented from flanking said plurality of panels bothat the bottom and at the top thereof.

5. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition comprising incombination a plurality of hingeconnected soundproof panels, an overheadsupport, substantially horizontal elongated track means depending fromsaid overhead support in fixed position relative thereto, carriage meansmounted on said track means, suspension means connecting said carriagemeans with the alternate panels of said plurality of panels whereby saidalternate panels depend from said carriage means, the balance of saidplurality of panels being supported by said alternate panels by means ofhinge connections thereto, said suspension means including biasing meansdisposed within said panels to urge said panels upwardly, said carriagemeans together with said plurality of panels being movable along saidtrack, a strip of resilient material attached to the length of theunder-edge of each panel of said plu rality of panels, upper sealingmeans connected to said overhead support and substantially enclosingsaid track means throughout the length thereof being movable verticallyrelative thereto, alignment means mounted on said plurality of panelsfor co-acting with said upper sealing means to retain said plurality ofpanels in straight-line alignment when said movable partition is inextended position and means located between said upper sealing means andsaid overhead support for automatically applying positivedownward-acting force to said upper sealing means along the lengththereof, said upper sealing means being moved downward against theupward force of said biasing means into sealing engagement with the topsof said plurality of panels sealing the space between said overheadsupport and said tops of said plurality of panels and in addition movingsaid plurality of panels downward to force said strip of material intosealing engagement with the surface below said plurality of panelswhereby sound is prevented from flanking said plurality of panels bothat the bottom and at the top thereof.

6. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition substantiallyas described in claim 5 wherein the track means comprises dual rails.

7. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition substantiallyas described in claim 5 wherein the carriage means comprises afour-wheel truck and the suspension means and biasing means areinterconnected comprising a vertical shaft swived-mounted in said truckat its upper end and attached to leaf springs at its lower end, saidleaf springs being convex downwardly and being affixed at their ends tothe top of the alternate panels.

8. Apparatus for acoustically sealing a movable partition substantiallyas described in claim 5 wherein the means for applying positivedownward-acting force to the upper sealing means comprise a source offluid under pressure, expandable tubing extending substantially thelength of said upper sealing means and a conduit connecting said sourceof fluid under pressure with the interior of said expandable tubing.

9. A track system for acoustically sealing a movable partition inextended position comprising in combination an overhead support,elongated track means depending from and rigidly aflixed to saidoverhead support, said track means extending the length of said movablepartition being located above and substantially parallel to the topthereof, carriage means mounted on said track means for reciprocalmovement therealong, suspension means connecting said top of saidmovable partition with said carriage means whereby said movablepartition depends from said track means, said suspension means includingfirst biasing means to urge said movable partition upward with theunderside thereof clear of the surface adjacent thereto, a closureassembly connected to said overhead support and enclosing said trackmeans throughout the length thereof being movable vertically relativethereto, and means interposed between said closure assembly and saidoverhead support for moving said closure assembly downward against saidtop of said movable partition until the space between said overheadsupport and said top of said movable partition is sealed and the bottomof said movable partition is pressed into sealing engagement with thesurface adjacent thereto.

10. A track system for acoustically sealing a movable partition inextended position comprising in combination an overhead support,elongated track means depending from and rigidly affixed to saidoverhead support, said track means extending the length of said movablepartition being located above and substantially parallel to the topthereof, carriage means mounted on said track means for reciprocalmovement thereon, suspension means connecting said top of said movablepartition with said carriage means whereby said movable partitiondepends from said track means, said suspension means including firstbiasing means to urge said movable partition upward with the undersidethereof clear of the surface adjacent there to, a closure assemblyconnected to said overhead sup port and enclosing said track meansthroughout the length thereof being movable vertically relative thereto,second biasing means located within said closure assembly to urge saidclosure assembly away from said top of said movable partition and meansinterposed between said closure assembly and said overhead support formoving said closure assembly downward against said top of said movablepartition against the upward force of said second biasing means andmoving said upper sealing means and movable partition both downwardagainst the upward force of said first biasing means until the bottom ofsaid movable partition is pressed into sealing engagement with thesurface adjacent thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. APPARATUS FOR ACOUSTICALY SEALING A MOVABLE PARTITION COMPRISING INCOMBINATION A PLURALITY OF HINGE-CONNECTED SOUNDPROOF PANELS, ANOVERHEAD SUPPORT, SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL ELONGATED TRACK MEANSDEPENDING FROM SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT IN FIXED POSITION RELATIVE THERETOCARRIAGE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK MEANS, SUSPENSION MEANS CONNECTINGSAID CARRIAGE MEANS WITH THE ALTERNATE PANELS OF SAID PLURALITY OFPANELS WHEREBY SAID ALTERNATE PANELS DEPEND FROM SAID CARRIAGE MEANS,THE BALANCE OF SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS BEING SUPPORTED BY SAIDALTERNATE PANELS BY MEANS OF HINGE CONNECTIONS THERETO, SAID SUSPENSIONMEANS INCLUDING BIASING MEANS ARRANGED WITHIN SAID ALTERNATE PANELS TOURGE SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS UPWARDLY, SAID CARRIAGE MEANS TOGETHERWITH SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS BEING MOVABLE ALONG SAID TRACK, A STRIP OFRESILIENT MATERIAL ATTACHED TO THE LENGTH OF THE UNDER-EDGE OF EACHPANEL OF SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS, UPPER-EDGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAIDOVERHEAD SUPPORT AND SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSING SAID TRACK MEANS THROUGHOUTTHE LENGTH THEREOF BEING MOVABLE VERTICALLY RELATIVE THERETO AND MEANSLOCATED BETWEEN SAID UPPER SEALING MEANS AND SAID OVERHEAD SUPPORT FORAUTOMATICALLY APPLYING POSITIVE DOWNWARD-ACTING FORCE TO SAID UPPERSEALING MEANS ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF FOR URGING SAID UPPER SEALINGMEANS INTO SEALING ENGAGEMTENT WITH THE TOPS OF SAID PLURALITY OF PANELSAND MOVING SAID PLURALITY OF PANELS DOWNWARD TO FORCE SAID STRIPS OFMATERIAL INTO SEALONG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SURFACE BELOW SAID PLURALITYOF PANELS WHEREBY SOUND IS PREVENTED FROM FLANKING SAID PLURALITY OFPANELS BOTH AT THE BOTOM AND AT THE TOP THEREOF.